AKC S.T.A.R. Puppy Classes & Certification!These classes are for all puppies from 9 to 16 weeks of age at the time of their first class. Classes are ongoing, so you can jump in at any time!

So, What IS "Puppy Socialization," Anyway? (PLEASE READ)

This class offers a combination of ON-leash lessons & OFF-leash socialization. Puppies, before the age of 16 weeks, need to experience the world only in a positive way. *IMPORTANT: Puppies should NOT be vaccinated the day prior to, the day of, or the day following class. 1. Puppies need to have proper & positive canine, human, and environmental socialization. Learn all about how to do this the RIGHT WAY when you come to class with your puppy. Set your puppy up for success!

2. Puppies are the best teachers of important social cues, as you don't want to risk your puppy being corrected by an intolerant adult. ONLY puppies have the ability to teach other puppies the importance of bite inhibition. When a puppy bites too hard on another puppy, the "bitee" squeals, ends play, or both. This is an important consequence for your puppy to learn.

3. Consequences to actions teach important impulse control lessons & must be taught during this critical socialization window of opportunity (before 16 weeks of age). Another example of a necessary consequence (not punishment) would be when you pull him away from play when he becomes "ramped up" & is playing too hard, or even bullying, another puppy.

4. When a puppy is pulled out of the game when playing too roughly, he learns not to bully. Conversely, when a shy or timid puppy is pulled away, he learns to be afraid because you are reinforcing his fear WHILE TEACHING THE OTHER PUPPY THAT BULLYING IS OKAY.

WHILE THIS CLASS PUTS A HEAVY EMPHASIS ON SOCIALIZATION, YOUR PUPPY WILL ALSO LEARN BASIC COMMANDS SUCH AS

Group classes are a fantastic way to socialize your dog OFF-LEASH (an essential component to training) while "boning" up on your training skills! We use a "train & play" method that allows dogs to take off-leash breaks during class to lessen the pressure of learning & to allow plenty of much-needed play time. NOTE: The Shy & Fearful Dogs class does not offer off-leash training.

Junior High (4-9 months)

Terrible Teens (9 months to 3 years)

Remedial socialization for adolescent dogs who don't know how to act around dogs who bark, lunge, or growl at them.﻿ The teen years are also an age when dogs become defiant toward their owners. (They are often seen talking on the phone constantly with their friends & staying up late playing video games...)

Puppy Catch-up & Manners 101** (5 months or older)

Socialization & basic training for dogs who missed out on taking a beginner puppy class. This class meets weekly for six weeks. Prerequisite: None ************************************************************************************************************************************************** **Dogs with fear or aggression issues should take the Shy & Fearful Dogs class or the Reactive Dogs class.

7672 S. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota, Fl 34231(1.5 miles south of Stickney Point Rd. & 0.5 miles north of Westfield Sarasota Square Mall)

THERAPY DOG TRAINING

This class helps prepare an already well-mannered dog to negotiate a wide variety of situations. A therapy dog must have a calm & gentle temperament, excellent focus with their owner, is in control under all circumstances, has no aggressive tendencies toward dogs, children, or adults, & loves being petted in all situations at any time.

Your dog will need to be evaluated to determine if he is ready for therapy work in places such as hospitals & nursing homes, schools, churches, & private homes.

We will meet at the training center for a few sessions, then take it on the road. We will practice meeting (and avoiding) strangers & dogs, working around wheelchairs, walkers, canes, & anything else we can find!

Prerequisite: Any advanced manners class such as our Focus/Manners 201 class, (unless temperament testing during initial evaluation determines that your dog does not need to have prior class experience).

Note: This class prepares your dog for general therapy work & the initial evaluation to be conducted by the therapy dog program of your choice & is not affiliated with any specific therapy dog program.

**Dogs with fear or aggression issues should take the Shy & Fearful Dogs class or the Terrible Teens class.

​ ​​​​​​​​​​​​FOCUS!

​& AKC Canine Good Citizen

(CGC) Classes** ​

This class is designed for dogs over the age of 5 months. They needn't have knowledge of come, sit, stay, etc., but it helps. This is an excellent class for those needing refining of these skills, however, and is also a class that will prepare you & your dog for the CGC evaluation & certification. We will teach you to use positive basic obedience techniques to help your dog learn to behave better around distractions such as humans, other dogs, children, workmen, cats, etc. We work heavily on Focus exercises with distractions! You will also learn ways of intercepting & redirecting your dog’s attention when he acts inappropriately (jumps on people, barks excessively, chews, eliminates in the house, pulls on his leash, reacts to triggers such as people & dogs or other animals). The leadership & relationship building skills you will learn in the FOCUS! class will help you become the kind & benevolent leader your dog needs in order to easily distinguish between appropriate & inappropriate behaviors.

Please direct all inquiries to Positively Simple Dog Training.This class meets weekly for six weeks. No prerequisite required.Class size is limited to a maximum of 8 dogs. Please contact us for availability.

​SHY & FEARFUL DOGS Class

Does your dog hide from people or other dogs, act aggressively toward them or attempt to bite them? Perhaps he or she trembles around everyday sounds or objects. The goal of this class is to help you gain your dog's trust so he or she will no longer take matters into his or her own paws. You will learn to be the benevolent leader your dog needs you to be when he/she is feeling threatened.

This is a special class designed to teach owners to help their dogs overcome shyness & fearfulness, which is often exhibited through timidity or inappropriate responses to strangers, other dogs, unfamiliar surroundings or noises, etc. In this class, dogs stay on-leash. You will learn to use skills such as targeting & luring to help your dog become the CALM, CONFIDENT dog he is meant to be!

Please scroll downfor more information about ongoing classes as well as additional classes we offer!

SHY & FEARFUL DOGS See below for a description of the class, dates, & times. There is no prerequisite for this class other than an initial evaluation (at no additional cost).

PUPPY SOCIALIZATION & AKC S.T.A.R. PUPPYclasses meet Wednesday* & run for one hour weekly for 3 weeks. See below for a description of the class, dates, & times. Puppies must be 9-18 weeks old at time of first class. (For your puppy's sake, the sooner the better!)

FOCUS! classes meet Tuesday evenings & run for one hour weekly for 6 weeks.See below for a description of the class, dates, & times. Prerequisite: Basic manners or puppy class

THERAPY DOG TRAININGSee below for a description of the class, dates, & times. Prerequisite: Any advanced training course such as our Focus/Manners 201 class (or, after evaluation, your dog is deemed ready to take this class without taking the prerequisite class)